President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has suggested that he may lift his veto on Sweden's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) if Turkey is admitted to the European Union (EU). This proposal has raised concerns among the US and its European allies about Erdogan's reliability as an ally within multilateral organizations. Despite a breakthrough on Sweden's membership, Erdogan's EU proposition has sparked further skepticism.

During a press conference in Istanbul before leaving for NATO's summit in Lithuania, Erdogan stated, "First, come and open the way for Turkey in the EU; after that we'll open the way for Sweden just like we did for Finland." He also criticized countries that have kept Turkey waiting at the EU's door for almost 50 years.

Erdogan's opposition to Sweden's NATO membership is effectively a veto, as all NATO members must approve new ones. While Hungary's Viktor Orban is also holding out, it is unlikely to be the final roadblock. Erdogan insists that Sweden has not done enough to crack down on individuals with ties to Kurdish militants and other groups that Turkey considers terrorists.

Sweden has been making diplomatic efforts to convince Turkey to approve its NATO bid. Talks between Swedish and Turkish officials have made progress, according to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. However, unresolved issues remain.

The impasse continues, and it remains uncertain whether Sweden will join NATO during the Vilnius summit. Erdogan's proposal raises questions about the reliability of Turkey as an ally within multilateral organizations.